Lock spring pin appliance

ABSTRACT

An orthodontic appliance for use with a bracket having a pin opening and an arch wire slot, which comprises an uprighting spring and a pin coacting to lock one or more arch wires to the bracket and to apply an uprighting force to the tooth on which the bracket is mounted. The appliance includes a pin having a head, which coacts with the coil of the uprighting spring wherein the tail of the pin and the tail of the spring are received in the pin opening and the arch wire slot is closed such that free tipping between the arch wire and bracket is possible. The lever arm of the spring terminates in a hook for engaging with the arch wire and the coil of the spring is positioned at the bracket.

11] 3,793,730 [451 Feb. 26, 197 4 3,374,542 3/1968 Moylan, 32/14 A [5LOCK SPRING .PIN APPLIANCE Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene AssistantExaminerJ. Q. Lever' Attorney, Agent & Alex [75] Inventors: Percy R.Begg, Adelaide, Australi Peter C. Kesling, La Porte, Ind. [73] Assignee:TP Laboratories, Inc.

, Laporte, or FirmLockwood, Dewey, Zickert [22] Filed: May 5, 1972 [57]ABSTRACT An orthodontic appliance for use with a bracket hav- Appl. No.:250,590

ing a pin opening and an arch wire slot, which comprises an uprightingspring and a pin coacting to lock Related U.S. Application DataContinuation-impart of Ser. No. 21 1972, abandoned.

8,910, Jan.

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18 Drawing Figures LOCK SPRING PIN APPLIANCE This application is acontinuation-in-part application of our copending application Ser. No.218,910 filed on Jan. 19, 1972 now abandoned.

This invention relates in general to an orthodontic appliance and moreparticularly to a lock spring pin appliance for use with brackets havinga pin opening and arch wire slot to lock one or more arch wires in thearch wire slot of the bracket and to apply an uprighting force to thetooth on which the bracket is mounted.

Uprighting springs are utilized in the third stage of the light wiretechnique for uprighting teeth, and normally include one end anchored atthe bracket and the other end connected mesially or distally to the archwire so that a relative force can be applied between the arch wire andthe bracket to perform the uprighting function. It has been heretoforenecessary to ligate one or more arch wires in the arch wire slot on thebracket when using an uprighting spring. While here the appliance of theinvention will be illustrated as applied to a light wire bracket, itshould be appreciated it can be used in brackets employed in othertechniques.

It has also been heretofore necessary for the orthodontist to closelywatch the movement of teeth under the action of uprighting springs, toprevent the teeth from being over-moved. This has required additionalvisits on the part of the patient, and if for some reason a spring wasnot removed in time, the root of the tooth will strike the root of anadjacent tooth or occupy a position in the bone preventing the adjacenttooth from assuming its proper position.

It has been heretofore proposed to make a one-piece uprighting springand a lock pin appliance, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,739, butsuch an arrangement has not been successfulbecause it is not possible tomake the appliance having the many sharp bends necessary to accomplishthe pin function. It is difficult to bend spring steel wire asillustrated in this patent. Furthermore, the coils are necessarily heldat such a great distance from the arch wire, the point of rotation ofthe tooth, that the device is inefficient and subject to deformationfrom the mere force of application and from the forces of mastication.The proposed appliance of this patent is also objectionable in that itseats the arch wire at the bottom of the arch wire slot in the bracketwhich inhibits tipping except in uniquely formed brackets such as thosedisclosed in the patent. Moreover, extreme flexing of the device mayallow the arch wire to escape the bracket slot, and it is difficult tobend the tail of the spring over the end of the bracket unless it isfirst annealed or softened.

The lock spring pin appliance of the present invention is primarilyintended for use with the standard light wire brackets, such as thoseillustrated in U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,085,336 and 3,178,821, but it may beused with other light wire brackets, universal brackets verticallyslotted edgewise brackets,or any bracket having an occlusogingivallyextending opening to coact with means for attaching an arch wirethereto. The appliance includes a pin made of easily bendable softmetal, preferably dead soft metal, such as brass or the like, and anuprighting spring made of spring steel wire, both of which include tailsthat straddle the arch wire or wires when locking same in the arch wireslot of a bracket. One or both of the tails may be of such length thatwhen the appliance is seated on a bracket, the tail or tails will extendthrough the opening means or pin opening and be bendable back on thebracket to lock the appliance in place. Likewise, one of the tails maybe short and may only extend along one side of the arch wire.

The pin in one form includes a stem or tail that extends through the pinopening of a bracket along one side of the arch wire, and a headbottoming on the end of the bracket at the arch wire slot closing theslot to lock the arch wire to the bracket. The term .pin opening as usedherein generally refers to the occlusogingivally extending opening inthe body of a bracket normally designed to receive at least the tail ofa lock pin, but also includes where applicable the space between thewelding flanges. The tail of the pin is bent over the incisal orocclusal end of the bracket to secure the pin to the bracket. A hole isprovided in the head of the pin for receiving the tail of the spring tointerconnect the pin and spring. The spring tail also extends into thepin opening of the bracket so that one end of the spring is held by thebracket. The coil or coils of the uprighting spring bottoms on thegingival side of the pin head and a lever arm extends from the coil forengagement with the arch wire. The coil of the uprighting spring may belocked to the pin by providing a locking extension or tab on the head ofthe pin that is bent through the center of the coil to hold it againstthe head of the pin, thereby presenting an assembly prior to mountingthe appliance on a bracket. Lateral extensions from the pin head may beprovided to strike the arch wire when the tooth has assumed the desiredangulation. This prevents the tooth from being ore-moved which may causeit to interfere with the positions of adjacent teeth.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anorthodontic appliance for use with a bracket having an occlusogingivalopening, wherein the appliance is capable of locking one or more archwires to the bracket and of applying an uprighting force relative thearch wire, thereby eliminating the need to ligate the arch wire to thebracket while providing freedom for uprighting.

Another object of this invention is in the provision of a lock springpin appliance for use with a bracket having an occlusogingival openingwhich includes an uprighting spring and pin coacting to lock the archwire to the bracket and apply an uprighting force to the bracket, and atail extending through the opening to be bent around the bracket andlock the appliance in place.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lock spring pinappliance where the pin is made of relatively soft metal capable ofeasily being bent to lock the appliance to a bracket, the uprightingspring is made of spring steel wire, and wherein the appliance may bequickly and easily installed in place on a bracket.

A still further object of this invention is in the provision of a lockspring pin appliance capable of locking one or more arch wires to abracket and which will not bind on the arch wire(s) to allow relativetipping movement between the bracket and the arch wire.

Another object of this invention is in the provision of a lock springpin appliance wherein the uprighting spring may be removed following theuprighting action without removing the pin, thereby maintaining the archwire locked in place on the bracket.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lock spring pinappliance that will be self-limiting and de activate itself when thetooth has reached the proper inclination.

Another object of this invention is in the provision of a lock springpin appliance where the pin is made of relatively stiff, hard-to-bendmaterial and the tail of the uprighting pin is soft enough to permitease of bending around the incisal or occlusal end of the bracket tolock the appliance in place.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom'the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals referto like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper arch showing lightwire brackets on certain teeth and the lock spring pin appliance of theinvention mounted on two of the brackets and illustrating theapplication of uprighting forces in both directions, and showing oneappliance with a limiting lateral extension;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a light wire bracket and thelock spring pin appliance of the invention in somewhat exploded viewwith respect to the bracket to illustrate how the appliance is inserted;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the appliance without the laterallimiting extension illustrating especially the pin with the uprightingspring in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along line 44 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view illustrating the appliance of theinvention mounted in place on a bracket;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modification wherein the pin does notinclude means for locking the spring to the pin;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modification with incisal extensionsto more securely lock the arch wire in place and to prevent undesiredrotations between the arch wire, bracket and the appliance;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention whereinthe head of the pin extends through the spring coils and a locking tabis bent back from the head over the upper end of the coils;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention,and illustrating in phantom the locking tab shape;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further modification which differsfrom the embodiment of FIG. 9 only in that no locking tab is provided tolock the spring and pin together as a unit;

FIG. 1 1 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of theinvention shown mounted in a bracket;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the pin of the combination shown inFIG. 11 removed from the spring and with the locking tabs open prior tobeing bent over the spring coils;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of theinvention showing the locking tap shape in phantom;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of theinvention and shown in association with a bracket;

FIG. 15 is a still further embodiment of the invention which isessentially the same as FIG. 9 with the parts in reversed position;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another modification of the inventionshown in association with a bracket and slightly removed from thebracket to illustrate how it is inserted, wherein the tail of the pinextends between the welding flanges and is shortened to the extent thatit only reaches about the depth of the arch wire slot when the applianceis inserted on a bracket, and where the tail of the uprighting spring isbent over the bracket to lock the appliance in place.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of the bracket and appliance of FIG. 16showing the appliance seated on the bracket and the relationship withthe arch wires and prior to the hooking of the spring lever arm to thearch wires; and

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 16 showing theappliance in completely mounted position on a bracket having arch wiresin place.

The lock spring pin appliance of the invention is especially useful witha standard light wire bracket such as the TP 256 bracket made by TPLaboratories, Inc. of LaPorte, Indiana, although it should beappreciated that the appliance could be used with other light wirebrackets, or most any bracket having an opening means or pin opening.The appliance is used during the third stage of the light wiretechnique, at which time it is desired to upright teeth that areessentially non-vertical or not at the preferred axial relationship tothe arch. At this stage it is necessary to lock one or more arch wiresin place to the bracket such as in the arch wire slot of the bracket insuch a manner to permit relative tipping action between the bracket andarch wire.

The appliance of the invention includes an uprighting spring and a pinwhere the spring and pin may be presented individually, or fastenedtogether. Preferably, the pin and spring are fastened together so thatonly a single unit is handled when installing the appliance. The pinincludes a stem or tail that will extend through the pin opening of thebracket lingually or labially of the arch wire. A head is formed on thegingival end of the tail to overlie and close the arch wire slot.Accordingly, the pin head does not enter the pin opening of the bracket,and therefore functions to allow relative tipping movement between thebracket and arch wire. The tail of the pin or spring is bend around theocclusal end of the bracket to lock it in place.

The uprighting spring includes a coil or a plurality of coils which seaton the gingival side of the pin head or the bracket, and a tailextending into the opening means or pin opening at the labial or lingualside of the arch wire or wires. A tail in one form of the inventionextends from one end of the coils through a hole formed in the pin headand onto the pin opening of the bracket on the buccal or labial side ofthe arch wire. A lever arm extends from the other end of the coils andis provided with a hook for hooking to the arch wire at the mesial ordistal side of the bracket. Preferably, a locking tab extends from thebuccal or labial end of the pin head and is bent back through the centerof the coils to lock the coils to the pin head thereby presenting a lockspring pin appliance.

Referring now to the drawings andparticularly to FIG. 1, a plurality ofteeth of an upper arch are illustrated with the appliance of theinvention mounted in place. The lock spring pin appliance 10 isillustrated in FIG. I mounted on brackets 11 which are in turn suitablyfastened, such as by welding or soldering to bands 12. The bands aresuitably cemented to the teeth 13 and 14. An arch wire 15 is shownlocked to the brackets 11 by the spring pin units 10 wherein the forcesapplied by the arch wire and the brackets are such as to causeuprighting of the teeth 13 and 14 in the direction of the arrows 13a and14a from the actual or present axes 13b and 14b to the preferred axes13c and 14c. The limiting extension 22 on tooth 14 can be used toprevent further movement of the axis beyond the 14c position. The springpin appliance on tooth 13 does not have this modification. Thus, whenthe arch wire engages the extension 22, further tipping will cease andthe spring will be deactivated. The extension therefore assures properinclination and prevents overtipping. It will be appreciated thatuprighting in the opposite direction would be accomplished by reversingthe position of the lever arm and the wind of the coils of theuprighting spring relative to the bracket.

The lock spring pin appliance includes an uprighting spring made of asuitable spring steel wire and a pin 21 made of a suitable soft, easilybendable, substantially dead soft metal, such as brass. This spring pinunit for use in the third stage of the light wire technique isespecially useful for mounting on light wire brackets, such as the typeillustrated or other commercially available light wire brackets, but itshould be appreciated that it could be mounted on edgewise bracketshaving an occlusogingival extending pin opening, and an arch wire slot.

The light wire bracket 11 illustrated here includes a U-shaped body 25defining an occlusogingivally extending pin opening 26, and mesially anddistally extending welding flanges 27 which facilitate attachment of thebracket to the band 12. Either welding or soldering techniques may beused to fasten the bracket to the band and here it is appreciated thatthe bracket is made of metal. It should also be appreciated that thebracket may be made of plastic wherein the flanges would then bedirectly cemented to a tooth. The spring pin unit 10 can be used witheither metal or plastic brackets. A mesiodistally extending arch wireslot 28 is formed in the bracket body at the gingival end of the bracketso that it opens gingivally and has a labiolingual depth extending fromthe welding flanges less than the labiolingual depth of the body. Theocclusogingival depth of the arch wire slot 28 is usually about twicethe diameter of the arch wire used although it may be of any suitabledepth. Where the bracket is mounted onto a band, such as illustrated,the pin opening extends clear to the band between the welding flanges27.

The uprighting spring 20 of the spring pin unit 10 includes a pluralityof connected coils 30, one end of which is integral with a tail 31 andthe other end of which is integral with a lever arm 32. The outer end ofthe lever arm is bent to form a hook 33 to facilitate hooking onto thearch wire 15. While three coils are illustrated, it should beappreciated that any number of coils may be provided. Further, thestructure of the uprighting spring as illustrated is well known.

It should be further appreciated that the uprighting spring 20, which isof a standard configuration, is made of spring steel wire which isdifficult to bend too sharply. For example, it has been heretoforeproposed to bend the tail of an uprighting spring around the end of abracket which is possible but difficult to accomplish because of thesharp bend required. Preferably the tail is first annealed or softenedwhich permits it to be easily bent around the end of a bracket. The tail31 of the spring 20 in this embodiment is preferably of such a lengththat it will not extend beyong the occlusal end of the bracket when itis in place, such as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The pin 21 includes a stem or tail 37 adapted to be insertable in thepin opening 26 of the bracket and a head 38 at one end which extendssubstantially perpendicular to the tail. Preferably, the head 38 isslightly wider mesiodistally than the tail and includes a hole 39through which the spring tail 31 is inserted when the spring isassembled with the pin. A locking tab 40 extends from the head and isbent back over the head and into the center of the spring coils 30, asillustrated in the drawings, to lock the spring and pin together as aunit. The length of the locking tab is limited by the size of the springcoils so that the tip end of the locking tab will clear the coils whenit is bent inwardly in final assembled position.

Mounting the spring pin unit 10 requires a simple procedure whereinfollowing the positioning of the arch wire 15 and/or other arch wires inthe slot 28 of the bracket 11, the unit 10 may be held by a pair ofpliers to orient it for insertion into the bracket where the pin tail 37inserts lingually of the arch wire 15 into the pin opening 26 and thespring tail 31 inserts labially of the arch wire 15 into the pin opening26 wherein the tails of the appliance straddle the archwire. When thepin head 38 is seated on the gingival end of the bracket body 25, thetip end of the pin tail 37 may than be bent over and around the occlusalend of the bracket body to a position such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and5, thereby locking the spring pin unit in place. At this point the leverarm and hook of the spring will be relaxed and positioned above the archwire. Thereafter the lever arm 32 and hook 33 of the spring aretensioned and displaced to be connected to the arch wire 15, such asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 completing the installation. Should itthereafter be desired to remove the uprighting spring after it hasaccomplished its mission of uprighting the tooth, it isa simple matterto bend out the locking tab 40 so that the spring can be removed.Thereafter the locking tab may be bent back in place, keeping the pin inlocation for continued locking of the arch wire or wires to the bracket.Thus, it is not necessary to remove the pin when the uprighting actionhas been accomplished.

Because the arch wire is trapped between the pin tail and the springtail when the spring pin unit is in position on the bracket, it is notpossible for the arch wire to escape during the flexing of the coils ofthe uprighting spring. Further, it can be appreciated that there is noneed to ligate the arch wire or wires to the bracket since the pinpositively locks the arch wire in place.

A modification is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein it differs from thepreferred embodiment of FIGS. l-5 in that the pin 45 does not include alocking tab for locking the spring to the pin. Accordingly, the pin isfirst inserted as one part and then the spring is inserted as a secondpart. Quite obviously, this embodiment is not as easy to use as thatshown in FIGS. l-5, and it is possible that the spring may come outduring the treatment if the tail is not bent over the occlusal end ofthe bracket.

It should be appreciated that bending the spring steel material of thespring is quite difficult compared to bending the soft metal of the pin.

The embodiment of FIG. 7 differs from the embodiment of FIG. 6 in thatincisal extensions 48 are provided on the head 49 of the pin 50. Whenthe appliance is in mounted position the extensions 48 function to moresecurely lock the arch wire in position and the uprighting spring inposition in that undesired relative rotations between the bracket andpin are eliminated as the extensions 48 engaging the mesial and distalends of the bracket body prevent the mesial and distal movement of thepin head relative to the bracket body.

Another form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein theapplianceis generally designated by the numeral 41 and includes anuprighting spring 20 and a pin 42. The uprighting spring is identical tothat in the previous embodiments while the pin includes a tail 43, ahead 44 extending at right angles to and through the center of the coils30 of the uprighting spring and a locking tab 46 that is bent over thetop side of the coils. Accordingly, the pin head coacts with the coilsto close the arch wire slot of the bracket while the locking tab 46fastens the spring and pin together as a unit prior to it being mountedon a bracket.

The embodiment of FIG. 9 shows an appliance 52 according to theinvention which includes an uprighting spring 20 and a pin 53. Theuprighting spring 20 is identical to the spring illustrated in the otherembodiments and therefore the same numerals are applied to the sameelements. The pin 53 includes a tail 54 and a head 55 at the upper endand which extends substantially perpendicular to the tail, and a lockingtab 56 which extends from the head and is bent back under the coils 30of the uprighting spring. The locking tab 56 is bifurcated at its freeend or slotted at 57 to accommodate the spring tail 31. Assembly of thepin and spring is accomplished by first having the locking tab bent intoproper position with the head and with the tail of the pin extending inthe same plane as the pinhead so that the head and locking tab can beslipped onto the spring. When it is in seated position, the tail canthen be bent downwardly at right angles to the head to provide thestructure as shown in FIG. 9. The locking tab 56 is shown in phantom forpurposes of illustrating the structure at the end of the tab where it isbifurcated. Also illustrated in phantom is a limiting extension 58 whichcould extend laterally from one side of the locking tab 56 to engage thearch wire following a predetermined tipping action of the appliance tothereafter stop further tipping movement. This would enable inclinationcontrol and prevent overtipping of a tooth, as in the embodiment of FIG.2.

The embodiment of FIG. 10, generally designated by the numeral 60,includes the uprighting spring 20 and a pin 61 which differs from theembodiment of FIG. 9 only in that the pin is not fastened to the springto form a singular unit prior to insertion of the appliance into abracket. The pin includes a tail 62 and a head 63 which extends throughthe center of the spring coils 30 to lock the spring in place on thebracket when the appliance is mounted on the bracket. Followinguprighting treatment of a tooth, the appliance 60 may be removed and thespring can be easily separated from the pin so that the pin may be usedagain without the spring for the sole purpose of locking an arch wire inthe arch wire slot of a bracket. When the appliance is mounted on abracket, the coils of the spring seat against the upper end of thebracket. As in the other embodiments, both the spring and pin tailsextend through the pin opening to straddle the wire and the pin tail isbent around the body of the bracket to lock the appliance in place.

Another form of appliance is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 which differs fromthe embodiment of FIG. 9 only in the form of a pin, it being appreciatedthat the uprighting spring is the same as used in the other appliancesillustrated. This embodiment is generally designated by the numeral 65and the pin 66 includes a tail 67 and a head 68. Extending from the headare a pair of spaced locking tabs 69 which are bent over the coils 30 ofthe uprighting spring as seen in FIG. 1 1. Since the locking tabs 69 arespaced apart and they are shown in FIG. 12 prior to being bent aroundthe coils of the spring, they define an open area of the spring whichseats against the bracket when the appliance is mounted in the bracketand wherein the locking tabs straddle the bracket body. Accordingly, thecoils of the uprighting spring can be brought in closer to the bracketbody than is possible with the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3 and 9.Otherwise the appliance of this embodiment functions in the same manneras the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3 and 9. It should be further appreciatedthat limiting extensions could be provided on the locking tabs 69 tocoact with the arch wire in controlling the inclination as obtained bythe uprighting spring.

Another form of appliance is shown in FIG. 13 and is designatedgenerally by the numeral 71 and which differs only in the form of a pinprovided in that the pin includes a variation in the shape of thelocking tab for fastening the pin to the uprighting spring 20. The pinis generally designated by the numeral 72 and includes a tail 73, a head74 and a locking tab 75. For ppurposes of illustrating the constructionof the locking tab 75, it is illustrated in phantom in a straightenedposition relative to the pin head 74, wherein it is seen that a slot 76is formed in the locking tab to receive the spring tail. The slot isright-angular in form wherein the tail of the spring is essentiallylocked to the tab 75 when the tab is bent into position around thespring coils. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 9 butdiffers only in the manner in which the slot is formed in the lockingtab to accommodate the spring tail.

In FIG. 14 another form of appliance is illustrated and generallydesignated by the numeral 78 and which includes an uprighting spring 20and a pin 79. Again, the uprighting spring 20 is identical to that usedin the other appliances and the pin here illustrated coacts with thespring coils to fasten the pin and spring together as a unit prior toits being mounted on a bracket. The pin 79 includes a tail 80 having ahead 81 at its upper end and extending at right angles thereto. Lockingtabs 82 extend from the pin head 81 in the same plane as the pin head todefine with the pin head slots 83 that accommodate the coils 30 asshown. Preferably, the spacing between the slots 83 which extendparallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the headare spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the coils so thatthe pin will provide a positive connection between the spring and pinwhen it is in position. The assembly of such a unit would be such thatwhen the spring is by itself, the pin could be in flat form where thehead and tail are in the same plane and the tail of the pin insertedinto the center of the spring coils until the coils seat on the bottomsof the slots 83 and thereafter the tail 80 can be bent at right angle tothe head 81 to lock the pin and spring together. This embodimentoperates in the same fashion as the other embodiments in that whenmounted in position it locks the arch wire in the arch wire slot in sucha way to prevent relative tipping between the arch wire and bracket andforce is applied between the arch Wire and bracket to 9 effect a tippingaction on the tooth to which the bracket is mounted.

The embodiment of FIG. differs from the embodiment of FIG. 9 only inthat the spring tail and the pin tail are in opposite positions in thebracket. The appliance in this embodiment is generally designated by thenumeral 90 and includes an uprighting spring 91 and a pin 92. Theuprighting spring 91 is the same as the uprighting spring with theexception that the lever arm and the tail are in reverse positions. Thespring includes coils 93 with the lever arm 94 at the labial side andthe tail 95 at the lingual side. The pin 92 includes a tail 96 with ahead 97 at the upper end and a locking tab 98 extends therefrom and isbent beneath the coils 93. The locking tab 98 is identical to the tab 56in the embodiment of FIG. 9 in that it has a bifurcated end forreceiving the spring tail. The pin 92 is identical to the pin 53 withthe exception that it is turned 180 degrees so that the tail 96 insertsin the labial side of the pin opening. Further, the uprighting springtail 95 inserts in the lingual side of the pin opening, and as in theother embodiments, the arch wire is captured between the spring and pintails.

A further embodiment of the lock spring pin appliance of the inventionis shown in FIGS. 16-18, wherein the appliance is generally designatedby the numeral 110 and includes an uprighting spring 111 and a pin 112.The appliance here is also illustrated for use with a standard lightwire bracket of the type illustrated in the previous embodimentsalthough it should be appreciated that this appliance can be used forother light wire brackets, for example, the Unipoint bracket made byUnitek Corporation. This appliance differs from the previous embodimentsprimarily in that the pin tail is shortened, while the spring tail islengthened to enable the spring tail to be bent over the end of thebracket for locking the appliance in place. While reference has beenheretofore made to the possibility of locking more than one arch wire inthe arch wire slot of a bracket, for purposes of illustration, thisembodiment of the spring pin appliance shows locking an auxiliary archwire 113 in the arch wire slot with the main arch wire 15.

Except for the length of the spring tail, the spring 111 is otherwiseidentical in construction to the spring 10 shown in previous embodimentsand that includes a plurality of connected coils 115. One end of thecoils is integral with the tail 116, while the other end is integralwith a lever arm 117 which terminates in a hook 118. The length-of thespring tail 116 is such that when the appliance is mounted in thebracket, as shown in FIG. 17, the tail extends through the pin openingand beyond the end of the bracket so that it may be bent around the endof the bracket, as shown in FIG. 18. As already mentioned, while it ispossible to bend the spring tail, since the spring is made of springsteel, it is extremely difficult to bend unless it has been annealed orsoftened. Accordingly, it is to be understood that normally the endportion of the spring tail, which will be subjected to rather sharpbending, will be preannealed prior to insertionin the bracket andlocking of the appliance to the bracket. Pre-annealing can beaccomplished in any suitable manner, such as by properly heating the endof the spring tail with any suitable heat source.

The pin 112 includes a stem or tail 125 adapted to be received betweenthe welding flanges of the bracket and a head 126 extending generallyperpendicular to the tail and beneath the coils of the spring. A hole127 is provided in the pin head 126 to receive the tail of the springand which coacts with a locking tab 128 that is bent back from the endof the head through the center of the spring coils to lock the springand pin together as a unit and facilitate its handling when mountingsame on a bracket. Except for the fact that the tail is relatively shortso that it will only extend along and lingually of the arch wire orwires, the pin 112 is generally of the same construction as the pin 21illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 17, the pin tail 125 is of alength equal to about the depth of the arch wires or the depth of thearch wire slot to assist the straddling of the arch wire with the springtail 1 16. Essentially, the pin tail coacts with the arch wire slot 28and the pin head to contain the arch wires with respect to the bracketbecause the pin tail extends down along the lingual side of the archwires, there is no possibility that the arch wires can escape from thebracket.

While the embodiment of FIGS. 16 to 18 illustrates the placement of thepin tail lingual to the arch wires and the spring tail labial to thearch wires, it may be recognized the spring tail may be positionedlingual of the arch wires and the pin tail positioned labial of the archwires such as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 15. As in the otherembodiments, the pin and spring tails essentially straddle the archwires to assist in providing positive locking of the arch wires to thebracket.

Although only the pin tail or the spring tail in the embodimentsillustrated extend beyond the bracket to be bent over and lock theappliance in place, it should be appreciated that both tails could be ofsuch length to extend beyond the bracket to be bent over and providemore secure anchoring of the applianceto the bracket.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention, but it is understood that this application is to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A lock spring pin appliance in combination with a bracket of the typehaving a body with occlusogingivally extending openingmeans and amesiodistally extending arch wire slot to lock one or more arch wires inthe slot and apply an uprighting force to the bracket and tooth to whichthe bracket is attached, said appliance comprising an uprighting springand a pin, said spring being of spring steel and including a pluralityof coils, a tail extending from the coils into said opening means, and alever arm extending from the coils connecting at one side of the bracketto an arch wire locked in the slot, said pin including a head overlyingsaid arch wire slot, and a tail extending from the head into the openingmeans, one of the tails extending along the lingual side of the archwire slot and the other of the tails extending along the labial side ofthe slot, thereby positioning the arch wire between the tails, and oneof said tails being of such a length as to extend through the openingmeans and be bendable back on the bracket to lock the appliance to the.bracket, and the other tail being of a length at least equal to theocclusogingival depth of the slot. I

2. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein means on the pin locksthe spring and pin together prior to mounting on a bracket.

3. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the head of the pinseats on the bracket.

4. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the head of the pin isarranged between the spring coils and the bracket.

5. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein a lock tab extends fromthe head of the pin back into the center of the coils to lock the springand pin together prior to mounting the appliance on a bracket.

6. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the head of the pinextends through the coils of the spring.

7. The appliance as defined in claim 6, wherein means extends from thehead of the pin coacting therewith to lock the spring and pin togetherprior to mounting the appliance on a bracket.

8. The appliance as defined in claim 1, and means extending laterallyfrom said head to engage the arch wire following a predetermined tippingmovement and limiting the tipping action of the spring.

9. The appliance as defined in claim 4, and a hole is provided in thepin head through which the tail of the spring extends.

10.. The appliance as defined in claim 9, and means extending from thehead of the pin coacting therewith to lock the pin and spring togetherprior to mounting the appliance on a bracket.

11. The appliance as defined in claim 10, wherein said means extendingfrom the head includes a lock tab which extends into the center of thespring coils.

12. The appliance as defined in claim 9, and extensions extending fromthe head of the pin and along the mesial and distalsides of the bracketbody to prevent relative rotation between the appliance and the bracket.

13. The appliance as defined in claim 11, and means extending laterallyfrom said head to engage the arch wire following a predetermined tippingmovement and limiting the tipping action of the spring.

14. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the length of thespring tail is such that it will not exceed the occlusogingival lengthof the bracket, and the pin is made of an easily bendable metal and ofsuch a length that is greater than the occlusogingival length of thebracket and can be bent over the bracket to lock the appliance thereto.

15. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring tail is onthe labial side of the arch wire slot and the pin tail is on the lingualside thereof.

16. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring tail is onthe lingual side of the arch wire slot and the pin tail is on the labialside thereof.

17. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the pin tail is of sucha length to be bendable over the bracket and lock the appliance thereto.

18. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring tail is ofsuch a length to be bendable over the bracket and lock the appliancethereto.

19. A lock spring pin appliance in combination with a bracket of thetype having a body with an occlusogingivally extending pin opening and amesiodistally extending arch wire slot to lock one or more arch wires inthe slot and apply an uprighting force to the bracket and tooth to whichthe bracket is attached, said appliance comprising an uprighting springand a pin, said spring being of spring steel and including a pluralityof coils, a tail extending from the coils into the pin opening along oneside of said arch wire and terminating beyond the bracket so it can bebent back on the bracket for anchoring the appliance to the bracket, anda lever arm extending from the coils connecting at one side of thebracket to an arch wire locked in the slot to generate a working forcebetween the arch wire and the bracket, said pin including a headoverlying said arch wire slot to close same and against which the springcoils seat, and a tail extending from the head into the pin openingalong the other side of said arch wire.

20. The appliance as defined in claim 19, and a hole in said pin headthrough which the tail of the spring extends.

21. The appliance as defined in claim 20, and means extending from thepin head coacting therewith to lock the spring and pin together prior tomounting the appliance on a bracket.

22. The appliance as defined in claim 21, wherein said means extendingfrom the pin head includes a locking tab extending into the center ofthe coils.

23. The appliance as defined in claim 22, wherein the occlusogingivallength of the pin tail is about the same as the occlusogingival depth ofthe arch wire slot.

24. A lock spring pin appliance in combination with a bracket of thetype having a body with an occlusogingivally extending pin opening and amesiodistally ex tending arch wire slot, said appliance locking one ormore arch wires in the slot and applying an uprighting force to thebracket and tooth to which the bracket is attached, said appliancecomprising an uprighting spring and a pin, said pin being of easilybendable metal having a tail extendable through and terminating beyondthe pin opening and a head at one end thereof extending substantiallyperpendicular to the tail and seating against the slot end of thebracket body and overlying the slot to lock the arch wire therein, and ahole in the head aligned with the pin opening, and an uprighting springof spring steelwire including coil means having a tail and a lever armextending therefrom, the tail extending through the head hole into thepin opening so that the coil means seats on the head, means extendingfrom the head and coacting therewith to fasten the pin and springtogether prior to mounting the appliance on a bracket, and the lever armterminating in a hook connecting to the arch wire at one side of thebracket to generate a working force between the arch wire and thebracket.

25. The appliance as defined in claim 24, and means extending laterallyfrom said pin head to engage the arch wire following a predeterminedtipping movement and stopping the tipping action of the spring.

26. The appliance as defined in claim 24, wherein the spring tail islabial to the arch wire and the pin tail is lingual to the arch wire. v

27. A spring pin appliance in combination with a bracket of the typehaving a body with an occlusogingivally extending opening to lock one ormore arch wires to the bracket and apply an uprighting force to thebracket, said appliance comprising an uprighting spring and a pin, saidspring including a plurality of coils, a tail extending from the coilsto engage the bracket body and hold one end of the coils, and a leverarm extending from the coils including a hook portion engaging an archwire locked to the bracket at one side of the bracket, said pinincluding a head and a tail, said spring tail and pin head coacting tointerconnect the spring and pin together, and said pin tail extendinginto the 14 coils including a hook portion engaging an arch wire lockedto the bracket at one side of the bracket, said pin including a head anda tail, said spring tail and pin head coacting to interconnect thespring and pin together, said pin tail extending into the opening andcoacting with the pin head and spring tail to straddle the arch wire andlock same to the bracket, and at least one of said tails extendingbeyond the bracket so it may be bent over the bracket to lock theappliance thereto.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 01* CORRECTION Patent No.3,793,73 Dated February 26, 197R v fl Percy R. Begg and Peter C.'Kesling It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

001. 2, line 32, change '"ore-moved' to --"over-moved"--; 001. line 56,change "tap" to --ta.b--;

Col. line 6, change "elevation" to --eleva,tiona1-; Col. 5 line 65,change "beyong" to --beyond--;

Col. 6, line 25, change "than" to --then-- Col. 7 line 2, change "ends"to "sidesline 12, after "bent" insert --back--; and Col. 8, line 28,change "ppurposes" to -cpurpOses-.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 197 (SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M; GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) I USCOMM DC 803764 69 n 11.5. covsmmsmPRINTING OFFICE: I969 o-ase-saa.

1. A lock spring pin appliance in combination with a bracket of the typehaving a body with occlusogingivally extending opening means and amesiodistally extending arch wire slot to lock one or more arch wires inthe slot and apply an uprighting force to the bracket and tooth to whichthe bracket is attached, said appliance comprising an uprighting springand a pin, said spring being of spring steel and including a pluralityof coils, a tail extending from the coils into said opening means, and alever arm extending from the coils connecting at one side of the bracketto an arch wire locked in the slot, said pin including a head overlyingsaid arch wire slot, and a tail extending from the head into the openingmeans, one of the tails extending along the lingual side of the archwire slot and the other of the tails extending along the labial side ofthe slot, thereby positioning the arch wire between the tails, and oneof said tails being of such a length as to extend through the openingmeans and be bendable back on the bracket to lock the appliance to thebracket, and the other tail being of a length at least equal to theocclusogingival depth of the slot.
 2. The appliance as defined in claim1, wherein means on the pin locks the spring and pin together prior tomounting on a bracket.
 3. The appliance as defined in claim 1, whereinthe head of the pin seats on the bracket.
 4. The appliance as defined inclaim 1, wherein the head of the pin is arranged between the springcoils and the bracket.
 5. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein alock tab extends from the head of the pin back into the center of thecoils to lock the spring and pin together prior to mounting theappliance on a bracket.
 6. The appliance as defined in claim 1, whereinthe head of the pin extends through the coils of the spring.
 7. Theappliance as defined in claim 6, wherein means extends from the head ofthe pin coacting therewith to lock the spring and pin together prior tomounting the appliance on a bracket.
 8. The appliance as defined inclaim 1, and means extending laterally from said head to engage the archwire following a predetermined tipping movement and limiting the tippingaction of the spring.
 9. The appliance as defined in claim 4, and a holeis provided in the pin head through which the tail of the springextends.
 10. The appliance as defined in claim 9, and means extendingfrom the head of the pin coacting therewith to lock the pin and springtogether prior to mounting the appliance on a bracket.
 11. The applianceas defined in claim 10, wherein said means extending from the headincludes a lock tab which extends into the center of the spring coils.12. The appliance as defined in claim 9, and extensions extending fromthe head of the pin and along the mesial and distal sides of the bracketbody to prevent relative rotation between the appliance and the bracket.13. The appliance as defined in claim 11, and means extending laterallyfrom said head to engage the arch wire following a predetermined tippingmovement and limiting the tipping action of the spring.
 14. Theappliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the length of the spring tailis such that it will not exceed the occlusogingival length of thebracket, and the pin is made of an easily bendable metal and of such alength that is greater than the occlusogingival length of the bracketand can be bent over the bracket to lock the appliance thereto.
 15. Theappliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring tail is on thelabial side of the arch wire slot and the pin tail is on the lingualside thereof.
 16. The appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein thespring tail is on the lingual side of the arch wire slot and the pintail is on the labial side thereof.
 17. The appliance as defined inclaim 1, wherein the pin tail is of such a length to be bendable overthe bracket and lock the appliance thereto.
 18. The appliance as definedin claim 1, wherein the spring tail is of such a length to be bendableover the bracket and lock the appliance thereto.
 19. A lock spring pinappliance in combination with a bracket of the type having a body withan occlusogingivally extending pin opening and a mesiodistally extendingarch wire slot to lock one or more arch wires in the slot and apply anuprighting force to the bracket and tooth to which the bracket isattached, said appliance comprising an uprighting sprinG and a pin, saidspring being of spring steel and including a plurality of coils, a tailextending from the coils into the pin opening along one side of saidarch wire and terminating beyond the bracket so it can be bent back onthe bracket for anchoring the appliance to the bracket, and a lever armextending from the coils connecting at one side of the bracket to anarch wire locked in the slot to generate a working force between thearch wire and the bracket, said pin including a head overlying said archwire slot to close same and against which the spring coils seat, and atail extending from the head into the pin opening along the other sideof said arch wire.
 20. The appliance as defined in claim 19, and a holein said pin head through which the tail of the spring extends.
 21. Theappliance as defined in claim 20, and means extending from the pin headcoacting therewith to lock the spring and pin together prior to mountingthe appliance on a bracket.
 22. The appliance as defined in claim 21,wherein said means extending from the pin head includes a locking tabextending into the center of the coils.
 23. The appliance as defined inclaim 22, wherein the occlusogingival length of the pin tail is aboutthe same as the occlusogingival depth of the arch wire slot.
 24. A lockspring pin appliance in combination with a bracket of the type having abody with an occlusogingivally extending pin opening and a mesiodistallyextending arch wire slot, said appliance locking one or more arch wiresin the slot and applying an uprighting force to the bracket and tooth towhich the bracket is attached, said appliance comprising an uprightingspring and a pin, said pin being of easily bendable metal having a tailextendable through and terminating beyond the pin opening and a head atone end thereof extending substantially perpendicular to the tail andseating against the slot end of the bracket body and overlying the slotto lock the arch wire therein, and a hole in the head aligned with thepin opening, and an uprighting spring of spring steel wire includingcoil means having a tail and a lever arm extending therefrom, the tailextending through the head hole into the pin opening so that the coilmeans seats on the head, means extending from the head and coactingtherewith to fasten the pin and spring together prior to mounting theappliance on a bracket, and the lever arm terminating in a hookconnecting to the arch wire at one side of the bracket to generate aworking force between the arch wire and the bracket.
 25. The applianceas defined in claim 24, and means extending laterally from said pin headto engage the arch wire following a predetermined tipping movement andstopping the tipping action of the spring.
 26. The appliance as definedin claim 24, wherein the spring tail is labial to the arch wire and thepin tail is lingual to the arch wire.
 27. A spring pin appliance incombination with a bracket of the type having a body with anocclusogingivally extending opening to lock one or more arch wires tothe bracket and apply an uprighting force to the bracket, said appliancecomprising an uprighting spring and a pin, said spring including aplurality of coils, a tail extending from the coils to engage thebracket body and hold one end of the coils, and a lever arm extendingfrom the coils including a hook portion engaging an arch wire locked tothe bracket at one side of the bracket, said pin including a head and atail, said spring tail and pin head coacting to interconnect the springand pin together, and said pin tail extending into the opening andbeyond the bracket so it may be bent over the bracket to lock theappliance thereto.
 28. A spring pin appliance in combination with abracket of the type having a body with an occlusogingivally extendingopening to lock one or more arch wires to the bracket and apply anuprighting force to the bracket, said appliance comrpising an uprightingspring and a pin, said spring including a plurality of coiLs, a tailextending from the coils into said opening to hold one end of the coils,and a lever arm extending from the coils including a hook portionengaging an arch wire locked to the bracket at one side of the bracket,said pin including a head and a tail, said spring tail and pin headcoacting to interconnect the spring and pin together, said pin tailextending into the opening and coacting with the pin head and springtail to straddle the arch wire and lock same to the bracket, and atleast one of said tails extending beyond the bracket so it may be bentover the bracket to lock the appliance thereto.